Research on the prevalence of depression and generalised anxiety disorder in Latvia

Anxiety or neurotic disorders and mood disorders are the two most prevalent groups of mental disorders worldwide. Generalised anxiety disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterised by prolonged, excessive anxiety and worry, a premonition that something bad is going to happen, and is one of the most common anxiety disorders. Depression accounts for the majority of mood disorders.

Depression and generalised anxiety disorder often co-occur and most often these psychiatric disorders are not recognised in time and only few patients receive adequate, guideline-appropriate treatment.

If depression or generalised anxiety disorder is left untreated, it has a significant impact on the public health system, the patient's quality of life and ability to work, and increases the economic burden on the country.

To facilitate early and timely recognition and treatment of these disorders, it is necessary to know their expected prevalence, and general as well as region-specific factors. The aim of Vineta Viktorija Vinogradova's thesis is

to determine the prevalence of symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder and depression in Latvia and identify the determinants of these disorders in women and men.

The study is part of the European Social Fund and Ministry of Health Study on the prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal behaviour in the adult population of Latvia, which involved 2,687 adults.

The results show that 6.4% of the Latvian population is depressed, with a higher prevalence among women (7.7%) than men (4.8%). Generalised anxiety disorder symptoms (anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, etc.) affect 3.9% of the Latvian population and more women (4.9%) than men (2.7%). This shows that 

it is important to understand the gender-specific factors associated with these disorders in order to develop effective mental healthcare strategies.

Suicidal behaviour, depression, and generalised anxiety symptoms have been shown to co-occur frequently in both sexes, but in men suicidal behaviour or ideation is associated with a higher risk of depression and, in particular, a higher risk of generalised anxiety disorder. Therefore, when working with Latvian men, professionals should pay particular attention to symptoms of anxiety, nervousness, and tension that may indicate both possible depression and suicidal behaviour.

The results of the study not only confirm a number of groups of people at higher risk of depression described in the Clinical Algorithm for the Recognition, Management, Treatment and Care of Depression developed by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia, but also add new ones: women with eating disorders, ethnic minorities (especially women), economically inactive women such as those on maternity leave, women who have called an ambulance in the last year, and men with antisocial personality traits (anger, irritability, neglect of social norms). Particular attention should be paid to women who use intoxicating substances.

The risk of generalised anxiety disorder in women is increased by elevated mood syndrome or symptoms and for women with a child who is a minor. While in men the risk is increased by smoking tobacco and products containing nicotine.

The thesis not only draws attention to mental health problems prevalent in Latvia, provides useful insights for health policy makers and public awareness campaigns in Latvia, but also makes an important contribution to the global knowledge on mental health.

Vineta Viktorija Vinogradova will defend her doctoral thesis Prevalence and Sex-Specific Associated Factors of Depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in the General Adult Population of Latvia on 27 November 2023. Read more

RSU dissertation database